Ailun H.
Yelp
Overall, a 3.5/5 coffee experience, but will bump it to a 4/5 because of their cafe vision and values. Also, the cafe is super spacious with the abandon warehouse vibes and lots of plants (like your typical third-wave local coffee shop). The aesthetics here are pleasing to the eye and there is a good amount of seating to study/work or catch up with a friend.
I came here on a Friday morning with a few friends and fortunately, we were able to gather around a small table to enjoy our coffees and catch up. The coffee menu was pretty standard (black coffee, espresso and some lattes) along with a couple of signature beverages. Unfortunately, I didn't see any pour overs (which is my go-to), so I decided to give one of their specialty lattes a try since that's not something I'm able to make at home!
BLACK WALNUT MAPLE CAPPUCCINO - 5.50
I wish I knew there would be an additional charge for oat milk because I would have stuck with regular milk. The barista had asked me if I preferred regular milk or oat milk in my drink, so I had (wrongly) assumed that the pricing would be the same. In the future, I guess I'll ask before assuming, but I felt misled by the way they had posted the question. Additionally, because I like my lattes/capps strong, I asked for an extra shot (which I knew I would have to pay for). The total for my cappuccino was $8.51 after tax. Besides that complaint, the presentation of the cappuccino was beautiful and it's been awhile since I've seen latte art. I was hoping the drink would have a strong espresso flavor (given that I got an extra espresso shot, too) that would overpower the syrup. However, I felt like the maple syrup was the most prominent flavor of my drink and it was much too sweet for me. The espresso flavor was strong but there wasn't a lot of after taste. I liked the black walnut bitters! Overall, not my cup of cappuccino since it was too sweet and too expensive, but a few of my friends really enjoyed this sweet drink. If you have a sweet tooth, I can see this being your go-to drink!
Next time when I'm in Richmond again, I'll try their cortado or cop a bag of beans.